Trail marker

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to a trail marker formed of readily foldable material having a tie portion reinforced by a length of flexible wire, and a connected tail portion. The reinforced tie portion is constructed so that the opposed ends thereof can be readily wrapped and secured about a tree branch or the like to mark a trail.

United States Patent Ryder 1451 Aug. 22, 1972 1541 TRAIL MARKER 2,625,758 1-/1953 Shepherd ..40/1oc Inventor: Ernest A. y Pine Tree Watts Lane, Fairfield Conn; 06430 2,662,321 12/1953 Stoffel ..4o/1o c 3,132,624 5/1964 Shoemaker, Jr ..ll6/63 P [22] Filed: May 6, 1971 Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi [21] Appl' 140880 Attorney-Arthur T. Fattibene 521 US. (:1. ..116/114 40/10 c, 40/316 1571 ABSTRACT 'g 'g'ggggglmfig This disclosure is directed to atrail marker formed of 40/316 readily foldable material having a tie portion reinforced by a length of flexible wire, and a connected tail portion. The reinforced tie portion is constructed [56] Reterencgs Cited so that the opposed ends thereof can be readily UNITED STATES P T wrappid andlsecured about a tree branch or the like 1,241,302 9/1917 Taylor ..40/3l6 x 2,207,657 7/1940 Chamberlin ..1 16/1 19 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 2 /-l *1'1 l'"- l' 'l-k PATENTED M1322 I97? 3 685,482

INVENTOR ERNEST ARYDER ATTOR N EY TRAIL MARKER PROBLEM AND PRIOR ART Campers, hikers, explorers and the like, often encounter much difficulty in marking trails when traveling in unfamiliar wooded areas or the like. The problem is particularly aggravated in the case of young hikers, campers, explorers and/or for those who have a poor sense of direction. Consequently many persons have become hopelessly lost because they failed to mark their trail and/or became totally confused in their sense of direction.

I-Ieretofore most campers, hikers and the like, relied on their sense of direction and/or memory when traveling over a trail in unfamiliar surroundings. Others have resorted to marking trails by breaking tree branches and/or setting up various signs by utilizing the natural materials found on hand, such as stones, branches, tree trunks and the like. However, the use of such natural material for marking trails frequently did not constitute a positive identification as such signs quickly lost their identity in the wilderness. Also such signs are easily overlooked, misunderstood or lost in their natural surroundings. Therefore, even though one attempted to mark trails by using the natural materials at hand, it did not assure such persons from becoming lost. The problem is even more aggravated if the hiker or camper planned an extensive trip in unknown wilderness, as for example, for several days; as the natural signs used for trail marking would tend to soon disappear, or wash away. Thus, the natural materials heretofore utilized to mark a trail, at best, had only limited duration, and did not constitute a positive and lasting means to permanently mark a trail.

OBJECTS An object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means by which trails through wilderness can be positively and permanetly marked.

Another object of this invention is to provide a trail marker which is relatively simple in construction, can be easily fabricated, and which is positive in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a trail marker which is specifically constructed and arranged so that it can be readily seen over long distances and which can be firmly secured in place.

Another object of this invention is to provide a trail marker which can be readily carried, easily set up, and which is light in weight.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Other features and advantages of this invention can be attained by a trail marker comprising of a T-shaped sheet sheet of readily foldable or flexible sheet material having a cross tie section and a connected tail section. The cross tie section includes a reinforcement which is flexible and arranged so that the marker can be readily secured to a tree branch or the like by twisting the opposed ends of the cross tie portion about the tree branch.

FEATURES A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a trail marker having a reinforced tie portion by which the marker can be readily secured in place.

Another feature of this invention resides in a trail marker having a portion which can be readily seen and made visible at a considerable distance to mark a given trail.

Another feature resides in the provision of a trail marker which can withstand the elements for a considerable period of time.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a trail marker embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the trail marker of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrated in an intermediate assembled position.

FIG. 4 illustrates the trail marker of FIGS. 1 and 2 as applied in marking a trail.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION Referring to the drawings there is shown therein a trail marker 10 which embodies the present invention. As best seen in FIG. 3 the trail marker 10 is preferably formed of a blank of readily foldable sheet material, as for example, plastic-such as vinyl plastic or the like, having a T-shaped configuration which includes a cross head tie portion 11 and a connected stem or tail portion 10A. If desired the sheet material or plastic blank may be brightly colored with a suitable florescent pigment, e.g., a yellow or orange color, to reflect light and/or make it readily visible over considerable distances. 2

As best seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, a reinforcing means in the form of a length of flexible material, as for example a wire 12, is secured to the cross tie head portion 11. I

The reinforcing wire strip 12 may be suitably-secured to the cross head portion 11 by reversely folding the material blank of the cross tie head over the wire strip as best seen in FIG. 2. The reversely folded ends of the cross head portion may be suitably secured by any suitable means, as for example a fused seam 13, if the blank material is made of a fusible plastic material, or a sewn seam. Alternatively, the opposed ends of the reverse folds of the tie portion 11 may be suitably secured, as for example, by adhesive or bonding material coated to one side of the blank. The adhesive layer of bonding material may be of the pressure sensitive type so thatthe reverse folds are secured about the wire 12 by the application of pressure.

To thus secure the cross tie portion 1 1 about the wire or reinforcing means 12, the width of the material blank defining the cross tie section of the blank is formed of a sufficient width so as to effect the necessary reverse fold about the length of wire 12. In the assembled position as seen in FIG. 1, the cross tie portion 11 of the trail marker 10 defines a relatively narrow band which can be readily attached, as for example, to a branch of a tree, along the trail being marked, by simply bending the opposed ends of the tie portion 1 1A, 11B about the branch, and twisting the ends thereof together as seen in FIG. 4.

The tail, or stem portion 10A of the blank or marker 10 is then free to dangle in the atmosphere where it can be readily seen by a camper or hiker on his return trip; or by one following a trail so marked. By spotting or placing a trail marker .10, as described, atregular periodic intervals along the trail, a positive means is provided whereby the trail can be permanently marked, either for assuring a proper safe return trip, and/or permitting a following camper to follow th marked trail.

The reinforcement wire 12 extending across the tie portion ,11 of the marker provides a simple and expedient means by which the trail marker 10 can be permanently secured and maintained in position for a considerable period of time. As the trail marker is not formed of the natural materials found along the trail, it will be apparent that the marker will be clearly visible and easily recognized by any person traveling along the trail. Also the material from which the marker is formed can readily withstand the elements for a considerable period of time. Consequently with the construction described there is no danger of the trail marker becoming blended or to carry a substantial supply without imposing any strain on the hiker. The construction of the marker 10 is such that the hiker or camper can readily mark the respect to a particular embodiment thereof it will be readily understood and appreciated that variationsand modifications may be made without departing from the cross head tie portion and a connected tail stem portion,

a reinforcing means connected to the cross head tie portion, said reinforcing means including a length of flexible wire extending substantially co-extensive said cross head tie portion, v

said wire extending intermediate the width of said cross head tie portion, a

said cross head tie portion having a sufiicient width so as to be reversely folded about said wire,

and means for securingthe reverse folds of said cross head tie portion to enwrap said reinforcing wire therein.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said material comprises a phosphorescent colored sheet of heat fusible plastic, and said last mentioned means comprises a fused seam.

i l v F #1 

1. A trail marker comprising: a sheet of readily foldable material, said sheet having a T-shaped configuration having a cross head tie portion and a connected tail stem portion, a reinforcing means connected to the cross head tie portion, said reinforcing means including a length of flexible wire extending substantially co-extensive said cross head tie portion, said wire extending intermediate the width of said cross head tie portion, said cross head tie portion having a sufficient width so as to be reversely folded about said wire, and means for securing the reverse folds of said cross head tie portion to enwrap said reinforcing wire therein.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said material comprises a phosphorescent colored sheet of heat fusible plastic, and said last mentioned means comprises a fused seam. 